Identity Theft Alert - Is My Father Misusing My SSN for Tax Purposes?

So I'm in a really weird situation and hoping someone can give me some straight answers. I'm 29F and haven't been claimed on my parents' taxes since I was like 20 when I was still in college. My parents split up when I was a baby and used to take turns claiming me as a dependent. Yesterday I got this text from my dad (mid-50s) who has lived on the opposite side of the country since I was 13. I barely see him - maybe once every few years for a quick visit. He says he's filing his taxes late and claims the tax software is asking for my social security number even though he obviously can't claim me as a dependent anymore. I don't get why my SSN would matter at all for his taxes at this point. What made me suspicious was that just last week, I received an email from American Express saying I'd been added as an authorized user on my father's Macy's card without my permission or knowledge. I've also been getting credit card offers in the mail with my name but his Arizona address on them. Is it normal for tax programs to ask for adult children's SSNs? My roommate asked her mom who does taxes and she said that sounded really odd. In the text he was like "I had your SSN written down somewhere but lost it" (great security dad!) which is why he needed it from me. UPDATE: Thank you everyone for confirming my suspicions! I've now frozen my credit reports with all three bureaus. Thankfully I didn't find any open accounts in my name, but I did have to submit a dispute with TransUnion to get his address removed from my report. I'll be contacting American Express tomorrow about removing me as an authorized user and looking into getting an IRS Identity Protection PIN.

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19 comments

Yara Haddad

•8M

This is definitely suspicious and you're right to be concerned. Tax preparation software doesn't randomly ask for adult non-dependent children's SSNs. There's simply no reason he would need your SSN to file his own taxes if he's not claiming you as a dependent. The combination of him asking for your SSN, adding you as an authorized user without permission, and having credit offers sent to his address with your name are all serious red flags that suggest potential identity theft or financial fraud. Even if he's your father, these actions could negatively impact your credit and financial future.

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Yara Haddad

•8M

Yes, this situation warrants contacting the IRS, especially if you suspect someone might try to file taxes using your information. The IRS has an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program specifically for people concerned about identity theft. Once enrolled, no one can file a tax return with your SSN without that PIN. Being an authorized user can help your credit score if the primary account holder maintains good credit habits. However, being added without your knowledge or consent is problematic regardless of potential credit benefits. If the primary user runs up debt or makes late payments, it can damage your credit. More importantly, it indicates someone is taking financial actions in your name without permission, which is a serious boundary violation and potentially illegal.

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Paolo Conti

•8M

After dealing with similar tax confusion issues, I started using https://taxr.ai to help review my documents and flag potential fraud issues. Their system quickly alerted me to some inconsistencies in how my information was being used. The AI analyzes your tax documents and can identify when someone might be trying to misuse your SSN or claim you incorrectly. It also explains exactly which tax situations require a child's SSN and when they don't (spoiler: your dad definitely doesn't need yours).

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Paolo Conti

•8M

It works great for identity protection because it analyzes your tax history and flags any unusual patterns or inconsistencies that might indicate someone is using your information. The system compares current documents against your filing history to spot discrepancies. For identity verification, they use bank-level security protocols and encryption. They don't just help with tax prep - the system specifically looks for signs that someone else might be using your SSN, like attempts to file returns from unusual locations or with dramatically different information than your previous filings. It's basically an extra layer of protection beyond what the IRS provides.

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GalaxyGazer

•8M

I was really skeptical about using an AI service for something as serious as potential tax fraud, but after trying https://taxr.ai I'm honestly impressed. It flagged that someone had attempted to file using my information from a different state! The system showed me exactly where the discrepancies were in the filing patterns and helped me secure my tax identity with specific steps to take with the IRS. My situation wasn't with a family member like yours, but the unauthorized access concerns were similar. The document analysis feature was what really helped me - it spotted patterns I would have missed completely.

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Oliver Wagner

•8M

When I was having trouble getting through to the IRS about a similar identity protection issue, I used https://claimyr.com and it was a game-changer. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes after I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent set me up with an Identity Protection PIN and helped me resolve the unauthorized filing attempt. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue so you don't have to stay on hold for hours. I was super impressed considering I'd previously wasted entire afternoons waiting on hold.

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Oliver Wagner

•8M

It works by using an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold so you don't have to. When they reach a live agent, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. It's basically like having someone wait in line for you. I was skeptical too before trying it. The reason it works is because they're not doing anything the average person couldn't do themselves - they're just using technology to handle the waiting part. They don't have special access to the IRS or anything like that. It's simply a more efficient way to deal with the notoriously long IRS hold times.

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Javier Mendoza

•8M

I take back everything I said about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS about an identity theft issue for WEEKS. Got connected to an actual human at the IRS in 25 minutes while I was making dinner. The agent helped me file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) and set up an IP PIN for future protection. For anyone dealing with potential tax identity theft like the OP, getting that IP PIN is crucial - it prevents anyone from filing with your SSN without the PIN. Honestly shocked at how well this worked after all my failed attempts to reach someone.

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Emma Thompson

•8M

Freeze your credit IMMEDIATELY! I had a family member do something similar and I ignored the warning signs. They opened THREE credit cards in my name before I caught on. Call all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and put a freeze on your reports. It's free and you can temporarily lift it when you need to apply for credit yourself. Also, check your credit reports for any accounts you don't recognize - you can get free reports at annualcreditreport.com.

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Emma Thompson

•8M

You're already handling this well by freezing your credit! I wouldn't file a police report yet since there don't appear to be fraudulent accounts opened. That would be a big step that could permanently damage your relationship with your father. What I would do is document everything - save screenshots of that American Express email, the credit card offers with his address, and the text messages asking for your SSN. This creates a paper trail if things escalate. Also, getting the IRS Identity Protection PIN is an excellent next step. That prevents anyone from filing taxes with your SSN without the PIN, which only you receive. It's a good preventative measure that doesn't involve law enforcement but still protects you.

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Butch Sledgehammer

•5M

I'm so glad you took action and froze your credit! That was absolutely the right move. The combination of red flags you described - the SSN request, unauthorized authorized user addition, and credit offers to his address - definitely warranted immediate protective action. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, it's worth noting that legitimate tax preparers and software will clearly explain WHY they need any family member's SSN (like for dependents, education credits, etc.). Vague requests like "the software is asking for it" without explanation are major warning signs. Also, consider setting up account monitoring with your bank and credit card companies if you haven't already. Many offer free alerts for any new account inquiries or applications using your SSN. It's another layer of protection that can catch potential misuse early. The IRS Identity Protection PIN is definitely your best next step - it essentially locks down your tax filing so no one can submit returns with your SSN without that PIN. Stay vigilant and trust your instincts like you did here!

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